It has been a long 2 years since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Recent data as of January 2022 expected that more than 50% of the population in the United States would be infected with COVID-19.
Many of you have likely experienced the Covid illness since the start of the pandemic. Some of you may have had light symptoms and bounced back easily. Others may have been hospitalized and slowly recovered. Unfortunately, millions of people have passed away. For those of you who did survive Covid, you may still be experiencing symptoms weeks and months beyond normal which can be considered as having LONG Covid also known as PASC (Post Acute Sequalae of SARS Cov-2).
Long Covid is unpredictable and symptoms will certainly look different from person to person.
Let’s talk about the most common lasting symptoms that can occur from Long Covid.
Symptoms may include the following: Fatigue, body aches, generalized body weakness, trouble concentrating, shortness of breath, headache, gastrointestinal symptoms, brain fog, poor activity tolerance, anxiety, and depression. Another common symptom is post exertional malaise which means you may experience worsening of symptoms after a physical or mental activity. An example would be that today you may be able to walk around your home and do your chores without an issue but the following day, you can hardly function due to fatigue.
You should reach out to your primary care provider as Long Covid can cause other health complications. Your healthcare provider will obtain other blood tests and can get a better analysis to make sure all of your body systems are working appropriately. Once you see your primary care provider, you should get a referral to your local Physical Therapist who can monitor how you respond to exercise or exertion.
So why should you see a physical therapist post-Long Covid?
1) A Physical Therapist develops an individualized exercise program based on your symptoms and will assess how your body responds to exercise. We will check your vitals (heart rate, blood pressure, and your oxygen level to make sure you can safely participate in exercise. When you are suffering from generalized weakness, a Physical Therapist will assist you in improving your activity tolerance with the goal of allowing you to carry out your daily routine efficiently and independently.
2) Physical Therapists help you improve your quality of life. With Long Covid, it certainly takes away your quality of life. The ability to get up, get dressed, go to work, and meet your bestie for dinner are all things we tend to take for granted until you in a situation where you can’t! We listen to your complaints, address your symptoms, and provide education on how to conserve your energy in find a balance between resting and staying active. Common goals we hear from clients are to be able to care for oneself and to get back to work.
3) Physical Therapists care about your overall health and well-being. We have the opportunity to get to know more about our clients than the primary care team because we spend so much more time with you. We often can see if there is a change in your health and/or if you making progress towards your goals. Not only do we address your symptoms but will also provide you with other resources that would benefit your recovery. Physical Therapists will refer you to other members of the team such as an occupational therapist, speech therapist, and even a social worker.
The ultimate goal of physical therapy post-Long Covid is to help you recover and return to your prior level of function. If you are suffering from Long Covid, visit a physical therapist today!
Dr. Katrina Banks, PT DPT, CCI, CSRS, LSVT-BIG, NCS
Board Certified Neurologic Specialist
